Health Professions Council Launches Consultation On The Standards Of Education And Training And Guidance, UK

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 03 Aug 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The Health Professions Council has launched its consultation on the revised standards of education and training (SETs) and revised standards of education and training guidance.

The standards of education and training are the standards against which the HPC assesses education and training programmes. An education and training programme which meets the SETs allows a student who completes that programme successfully to meet our standards of proficiency. They are then eligible to apply to the HPC for registration.

The education, approvals and monitoring department at the HPC is responsible for conducting approval visits to education providers to ensure their programmes meet the SETs. If an education and training programme meets the SETs the HPC grants approval subject to ongoing checks via the annual monitoring and major change processes.

In May 2007 the HPC Council agreed a workplan to review the SETs. In order to conduct the review we invited organisations to be part of a professional liaison group (PLG). The PLG was made up of representatives of professional bodies, representatives of education and training providers, and HPC Council members. The group met a number of times and benefited from the input of all involved.

Michael Guthrie, HPC's Head of Policy and Standards, said:

"We first published the SETs in 2004 and published guidance for the SETs in 2006. We are now reviewing the SETs to ensure they continue to be fit for purpose."

It's important that the SETS and SETs guidance are applicable to all professions that we currently regulate as well as those we may regulate in the future. I would encourage everyone to have their say on these standards by participating in the consultation.

The changes and additions to the SETs and SETs guidance have been proposed following the discussion of the PLG, which were informed by feedback the HPC has received over the last four years from those have been using the SETS and SETs guidance.

Notes:

1. The deadline for responses to the 'Standards of education and training and Standards of education and training guidance consultation document' is 14 November 2008. To download copies of the consultation document, please see the HPC website.

2. For further information about this consultation, please contact Michael Guthrie, Head of Policy and Standards, on 020 7840 9768 or email policy@hpc-uk.org

3. For further information about routes to registration please see the HPC website http://www.hpc-uk.org/apply

4. The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against people who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.

5. HPC currently regulate the following thirteen professions. Each of these professions has one or more 'protected titles'. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HPC. To see the full list of protected titles please see here.

· Arts therapists
· Biomedical scientists
· Chiropodists and podiatrists
· Clinical scientists
· Dietitians
· Occupational therapists
· Operating department practitioners
· Orthoptists
· Paramedics
· Physiotherapists
· Prosthetists and orthotists
· Radiographers
· Speech and language therapists

Health Professions Council